Suspects wanted for allegedly attacking transgender woman again, police say

Police are asking for the public's help in finding a group of men who allegedly assaulted a 61-year-old transgender woman at her Westlake District business multiple times since the start of April. 

"I need to move from this area because, I can't no more," victim Sabrina De La Pena said.

According to Los Angeles police, the alleged attacks began on April 8, when one of the suspects entered De La Pena's store and tried to flirt with her. When she denied his advances, he left the store but later returned.

"The suspect sexually assaulted the victim and discovered she was a transgender woman," said LAPD's press release in April. "The suspect pulled away and threatened to kill the victim."

Since then, police say that the same suspect has returned to the business with additional suspects and "committed hate crimes against the victim." De La Pena said she has been attacked six times since April. She has owned two shops in the Westlake District for 40 years and has never had a problem until now. 

 "It's not easy for me. It's hard. But, one day it's going to pass," she said.   

Police say in the string of attacks, the victim was beaten with a skateboard, pepper-sprayed and stunned with a taser. 

Officers said that the latest alleged attack happened on Saturday night at around 11:40 p.m., when the suspects again returned to the store and assaulted the woman, leaving her with serious injuries. 

"They punched me. They kicked me. I tried to go outside, they pushed me inside," De La Pena said. "I received more than 50 punches. After that, I started screaming, and when nobody was coming, I said OK and asked God why?"

Investigators believe that there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact them at (213) 484-3495 or call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.